The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-11-05
coRMAN FRIGHTENED.
The Maryland Boss, Alarmed at the
Strength of the Reformers,
Carries the Fight into the Directory
of the Baltimore & Ohio.
What Is Believed to be a Political
Move Against Cowen.

NEW YORK, Nov. A despatch from
Baltimore to the Times says that the talk of
that city has been the appointment of Sena-
tor Arthur p German, State Director of
she Baltimore & Ohio Railroad. 1t was gen.
orally viewed, except among the German
workers and sympathizers, as a political
movement directed against John K. Cowen,
chief of the counsel of the Baltimore Il
Ohio and the leader of the reform movement
in the State. When Mr.. Cowen was asked
what he thought of the appointment, he re-
marked that it looked peculiar.
Many business men, recalling the wreck
and ruin of the Chesapeake and Chic Canal,
are apprehensive of this important change
in the directory of the great railroad which
places the Maryland Democratic boss in
position to control the State and city direc-
tors. There are twenty-three directors, of
which number seven are appointed by the
Mayor of Baltimore and four by the Board
of Public Works of the State, these repre-
senting the State and city holdings Of stock.
The appointment of German is undoubt-
edly result of the bitter war Mr.. Cowen
and the Independents have been waging
against him and his followers. The large
vote pOlled by the Independents and the Re-
publicans at the city election frightened
German more than has any previous reform
luONtlltlb. OOWtu HAS Detu ukullDR uttn
and showing up the corrupt practices of the
ring for four years. German has seen the
strength of the opposition increasing every
year, until he realizes that he must do some
thing to crush the fearless Cowen or go un-
der himself. The annual meeting of the
stockholders and the reorganization of the
Directory will take place on November 2l,
Senator German suddenly became ambitious
for dictatorship. The complement of city
and State, directors was fully made up, but
the Board or Public Works, composed OF the
Governor, State Treasurer and State Con-
troller, was happy to accommodate Mr.. Cor
man, and one of the directors agreeablY re-
signed. Mr. German took his place.
The States and city's interests will now be
fully protected, say the German organs and
the German Office holders. But business
men, with an eye to the future, think differ
emily. Winning over one director in addition
to the political II in the directory would give
the latter majority. By degrees the great
gigantic political machine. When, many
years ago, John w. Garrett came into the
Baltimore & Ohio directory, the road was in
the hands of politicians and on the verge Of
bankruptcy. 1t was John w. Garrett who
wrested it from the politicians and estab-
lished it on a firm basis. If the German
crowd is permitted to have sway, 1t will in a
few years require another John w. Garrett
to save the road from ruin. AS gentleman
said today, recalling the remark of Robert
DOu lcb Jdy 0Oulu Sbcdl
land in my absence." Mr. Garrett should
have said: Don't let Arthur German get the
Baltimore & Ohio railroad while l am
away"
1t is the opinion of some wise and conser-
vatve business men that German will not
be able to control the city end State direc-
tors as a whole. The mayor appoints the
city directors. Gen. f. G. Latrobe. the new
mayor, although put in Office by the ring, is
not liked by German, who was compelled to
run him for ithe Office because he was un-
doubtedly the strongest candidate they
could have nominated. Lathrobe, therefore,
has openly declared that he is under no
obligation to German or other bosses.
1t is not likely that German will have much
trouble in controlling the II directors when
the time comes. For the present German
will be contented to get rid Of his old enemy,
COwen; but that gentleman may give the
Maryland boss considerable trouble. Cor
man will probably try to intimidate and
menace Cowen but ii Mr.. Cowen would not
permit any of the higher officers in the
Baltimore and Ohio to silence his political
progress, he certainly will not stop for Mr..
German.